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Extraction and Characterization of Natural Dyes Applied to ZnO-based DSSC

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 August 2013

G. Perez Hernandez
Affiliation:
Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Avenida Universidad S/N, Zona de la Cultura, Col. Magisterial, Villahermosa, Centro, Tabasco 86040, México.
J. Pantoja Enriquez
Affiliation:
Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Energías Renovables, UNICACH, Libramiento Norte No 1150, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas 29039, México.
C. I. Ramos-Villegas
Affiliation:
Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Avenida Universidad S/N, Zona de la Cultura, Col. Magisterial, Villahermosa, Centro, Tabasco 86040, México.
M. Gonzalez-Solano
Affiliation:
Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Avenida Universidad S/N, Zona de la Cultura, Col. Magisterial, Villahermosa, Centro, Tabasco 86040, México.
G. Oskam
Affiliation:
Departamento de Física Aplicada, CINVESTAV-IPN, Mérida, Yucatán 97310, México.
B. Escobar-Morales
Affiliation:
Instituto Tecnológico de Cancún, Avenida Kábah Km 3, Cancún, Quintana Roo 77500, México
A. Flota-Robledo
Affiliation:
Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Energías Renovables, UNICACH, Libramiento Norte No 1150, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas 29039, México.
C. Ricardez-Jiménez
Affiliation:
Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Avenida Universidad S/N, Zona de la Cultura, Col. Magisterial, Villahermosa, Centro, Tabasco 86040, México.
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Abstract

The dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are a technological and economical alternative to conventional p-n junction solar cells. The DSSC is composed of a transparent conducting electrode (SnO2:F) coated by a porous, nanocrystalline film of n-ZnO to which dye molecules are attached, an organic electrolyte containing a reduction-oxidation couple, and finally a counter-electrode (glass/SnO2:F) coated by a thin film of platinum. The most efficient dyes for DSSCs are based on Ruthenium polypyridyl complexes, related to the high absorption coefficient in the entire visible range and the efficient injection of electrons into the conduction band of ZnO. However, the ruthenium polypyridyl complex contains a heavy metal of relatively high cost, and synthetic routes are complicated with low yields. Moreover, natural dyes in addition to their availability, are cost-effective, non-toxic and biodegradable materials, and can be extracted by simple procedures. In this paper we report the extraction of natural dyes from the stems of mangrove (D1) and tinto (D2) trees as well as from walnut (D3) shell. First, it was necessary to dehydrate the materials, after which extraction was performed using ethanol, water and sodium hydroxide solution. The dyes were characterized using UV-visible and infrared spectroscopy. The analysis of the infrared spectra shows an intense and broad band related to OH bond stretching vibration at 3393, 3442 and 3390 cm-1 for the mangrove tree, tinto tree and walnut shell, respectively. At 1051, 1123 and 1050 cm-1, there was a very strong absorption due to the stretching vibration of CO group, for the mangrove tree, tinto tree and walnut shell, respectively. These results indicate that the functional group for bonding to the ZnO is -OH for these dyes. The results of the U-Vis spectroscopy show that the strongest absorption in the visible region is provided by dyes of the tinto and mangrove trees. The current - voltage curve of a preliminary ZnO-DSSC sensitized with the natural dye of the mangrove tree bark is presented.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2013 

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